The Committee has found that – even in 2017 – there
are alarmingly high numbers of overseas workers being exploited in Australia,
women being brought here for forced marriage and victims who are unable to
access support services.

Shocking testimony during the Committee’s hearings
also revealed that Australian girls continue to be taken overseas for forced
marriages.

Key recommendations in the report include:

That the government investigate the role of
an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to request, collect and analyse data from
government agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs), business and industry
unions,

Establishing a National Compensation Scheme
for victims of trafficking, slavery and slavery-like offences,

Increasing the number of specialist
Australian Federal Police (AFP) staff in states and territories as well as
improving training for frontline staff (AFP and state police, Department of Immigration
and Border Protection and Fair Work Ombudsman officers),

That the government investigate expanding the
forced marriage protection airport watch list to include those over 18 years of
age,

The government establish a licensing regime
for labour hire companies to ensure they are properly licensed,

Expanding the pre-departure briefing program
for seasonal workers to more countries, and introduce post-arrival briefings
for visa holders to ensure migrant workers are provided with relevant information,

The government fund the National Action Plan
(NAP) to combat human trafficking and slavery so it can be fully implemented,
and

Continued funding for organisations engaged
in education and awareness of forced marriage.

The Australian Parliament must do
everything it can to protect vulnerable individuals.

Labor is taking the lead on this issue. Earlier
this year, Labor announced its support for an Australian Modern Slavery Act, to
improve transparency within business supply chains and help break the chains of
modern slavery.

Labor has also committed to
establishing an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to help victims of modern slavery
right here in Australia, and fight slavery both in Australia and
overseas.

The evidence-based recommendations in this report
focus on the most effective ways to address the problems
of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, as well as how to
protect and support victims.

Recent evidence given to the Parliament confirmed
that the chaos within the Turnbull Government has left Australian anti-slavery
non-government organisations without funding for the provision of critical
services for at least a month. This must be fixed.

The outcome of this inquiry
will inform the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia, which will report
later this year.

I look forward to bringing
the evidence and recommendations from this inquiry into the Modern Slavery Act
inquiry.

I am committed to raising
awareness and stamping out this insidious issue that affects millions of
vulnerable people around the world, including thousands in
Australia.